Transcription

1 This book was produced in collaboration by Canada Business - Nova Scotia and Immigrant Settlement and Integration Services

2 2006, Canada Business - Nova Scotia and Immigrant Settlement and Integration Services (ISIS) Second edition 2008 Third edition CBNS and ISIS acknowledge financial assistance provided by the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency and the Nova Scotia Office of Immigration. This document is published in electronic (PDF) format by the Canada Business - Nova Scotia and Immigrant Settlement and Integration Services. It can be accessed online in English and in French at and DISCLAIMER. Information contained in this document is of a general nature only. The authors, the CBNS and ISIS are not engaged in rendering legal, accounting or other professional advice. If legal advice or other expert assistance is required, the services of a competent professional should be sought. EXTERNAL LINKS. Some of the hypertext links lead to non-federal government sites that are not subject to the Official Languages Act and where material may be available in one language only. ISBN Iu4-79/2006E

3 This book was produced in collaboration by Canada Business - Nova Scotia and Immigrant Settlement and Integration Services

6 How to Use This Guide Welcome to Connections: An introduction to starting a business in Nova Scotia for immigrants. This book will help you understand the Nova Scotia business culture and walk you through the process of starting a business here. This guide is meant to help you get started. It does not provide every detail you will have to consider. Be sure to do your research and make use of all of the resources available to you. You do not have to read Connections cover to cover the day you begin reading it. As it is meant to introduce you to the business start-up process, we recommend that you give yourself at least one day to work through each section and that you try the Activity Zone tasks before you move forward. Each lesson in the book should be learned in order. We suggest that you read all sections, including those that you feel confident with already, so you get a feel for the full business start-up process. The guide also has some special features: These boxes tell you how to contact people who can help you with the lesson at hand Extra opportunity to think about the issues and to ask yourself the right questions Information that is related to Canadian business culture Directions on how to deal with any text that may be difficult to understand Helpful hints and directions to useful resources Advice from entrepreneurs who immigrated to Nova Scotia

7 Section 1. Things Unique to You as an Immigrant Entrepreneur Advice from entrepreneurs Starting up a business is a complex process. This guide is designed to walk you through that process here in Nova Scotia. However, before you get started, there are a few things unique to you as an immigrant entrepreneur that you need to consider: Your immigration status Your language skills Credentials recognition, and Establishing a credit history in Canada. I had never been an entrepreneur before this. I didn't find it easy and realized there was a lot of bureaucratic hoops to jump through to get started. But the good thing about Canada is that the information is all out there. It's a level playing field. As long as you follow the rules, you can move forward. After that, it's up to your business model whether you succeed or not, quips Ferdinand. Nova Scotia potters are very talented and produce beautiful pieces. We hope to find a few who could adapt their style to accommodate ikebana. The result will truly be a blending of cultures. The ultimate dream is to be able to export Nova Scotia-made pottery to Japan someday! Ferdinand and Miyako Ballesteros Connections: An introduction to starting a business in Nova Scotia for immigrants 5

8 Section 1. Things Unique to You as an Immigrant Entrepreneur Your immigration status If you want to operate a business and you are an immigrant, it is very important to understand the immigration process and your immigration status before you begin the business start-up process. Generally, if you wish to move permanently to Canada to start and operate a business, you have to be a permanent resident (landed immigrant) or have Canadian citizenship. The laws and regulations surrounding your immigration status can be complex, so you should ensure you get your information directly from Citizenship and Immigration Canada. If you are not sure of your status or your immigration file, or if you have other immigration-related questions, contact Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC). Foreign workers Information about bringing foreign workers to Canada may be obtained on the CIC website and the Service Canada website: International students International students who meet immigration requirements may be allowed to work in some circumstances. For further details and information, contact CIC. (In Canada only). Citizenship and Immigration Canada can be reached toll free at: Call centre agents are available to answer your questions Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. local time. They can provide information on CIC services and programs as well as the status of your immigration application. You can also visit the CIC website for online services including downloadable forms and guides, self assessments and checking the status of your immigration file. Try looking things up in a dictionary. Type the word or phrase into an Internet search engine and find other examples of how it is used. Ask people you know who speak English for help. Try out a language course. To find one, look up schools - language in the yellow pages of your local phone book. 6 Section 1. Things Unique to You as an Immigrant Entrepreneur.

9 Your language skills It is very important that you develop a good understanding of at least one of Canada s official languages. If English or French is not your first language, it is recommended that you take second language training to hone your skills. Proficiency in an official language will enable you to communicate with your customers, employees and suppliers, as well as to negotiate business deals or contracts. There are two different assessments that can be administered to evaluate your language skills: The Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) assesses English and the Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadiens (NCLC) assesses French. The CLB and NCLC are the standards used across Canada to describe language ability. The benchmarks describe what a person can do (a task), and how well he or she can do it, at each level and for each skill (listening, speaking, reading and writing). The CLB and NCLC describe what people who are learning a new language can do in daily life. If you are not sure which language you want to improve first, consider which official language you are most comfortable with right now and consult the chart below. It provides information on the mother tongue of people in Nova Scotia (mother tongue refers to the language a person first learned in childhood and still understands) and Canada as a whole. Things you need to know before your assessment: When you go to your assessment, bring your permanent resident card, Minister's Permit, or "letter of intent" from Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC). For more information about language assessment, contact ISIS at or the Metro-Region Immigrant Language Services (MILS) at For more information about English language training visit the Nova Scotia Office of Immigration website: or look up schools - language in the yellow pages of the local phone book. Allow at least two hours for the assessment. An advanced assessment may take four hours. Assessment times include an intake interview and orientation to programs available. Interpretation services can be provided to you during the assessment if you ask for them ahead of time. After completion of the assessment, the assessor will introduce you to English programs such as schools specializing in teaching English as a second language, classes and levels, sector-specific English programs and conversation groups available in the area. Private English as a second language lessons may also be available. If you are interested in private lessons (which are usually more costly than classroom sessions), ask at your assessment about how to contact a private instructor. Language(s) first learned in childhood and still understood Source: Statistics Canada, Census 2006 Nova Scotia Canada English only 832, % 17,882, % French only 32, % 6,817, % Both English and French 2, % 98, % Other languages 34, % 6,147, % Total 901, % 30,946, % Connections: An immigrant's guide to starting a business in Nova Scotia 7

10 Credentials recognition Depending on the type of business you wish to operate, you may be required to go through the foreign credentials recognition process. This is usually the case for professional services such as accounting, engineering, medicine, teaching and law, which are provincially licensed to meet minimum professional standards. If you plan to offer a service that requires a license, it will be necessary to contact the professional association or regulatory body responsible for that profession. Depending on your occupation, you may need to meet particular requirements before going into that business. Be sure to start the accreditation process as soon as possible! Depending on your profession, it could take quite some time for this to be completed. You may wish to obtain a Canadian equivalency statement through an international credentials assessment service. They need translated documents and, for a fee (usually about $100), they will determine the Canadian equivalency. One such organization is the Association of Translators and Interpreters of Nova Scotia (ATINS): Documents can be translated through ISIS s Translation and Interpretation Services, which provide translations solely of identification documents needed for settlement purposes in Canada. This is a para-professional level service that includes translating the following documents: Identification cards, driver's licenses, passports Certificates of birth, marriage, death, and divorce General educational university diplomas or degrees High school diplomas and academic transcripts Certificates of professional or vocational training You may want to contact the professional association that acts as a licensing body. A list of some of the most common professional associations can be found on the ISIS website: If you do not have a license yourself, you can still run a business if you employ other licensed individuals to do the work. In this case, your function must be limited to management. For more information about various assessment services, try visiting the following Web sites: The Canadian Information Centre for International Credentials: Work Destinations: For more information about credentials recognition, contact Service Canada: TTY Establish a credit history in Canada Building a solid Canadian credit history is very important in financial matters in Canada. You may have some cash saved to use during your first few months in Canada, but at some point, you will need to purchase inventory from your suppliers, rent a car, install a phone, lease space for your business or have a Canadian credit card to be able to make purchases over the Internet. In all these cases your credit history will be checked. 8 Section 1. Things Unique to You as an Immigrant Entrepreneur.

11 Even if you had a sound credit history in your home country, you need to establish a Canadian credit history to enable financial institutions and other lenders to assess your eligibility for credit. Credit history from your home country will not be taken into consideration in Canada. Your credit history is the record of how you have borrowed and repaid debts. Banks and other lenders pay credit bureaus to collect and report this data. They use it to evaluate your credit history by producing a credit score. What goes into your credit score Many factors are considered and put into a mathematical formula. These may include: Whether or not you pay your bills and loans on time How much money you owe How long your accounts have been open What types of credit you use How often and how recently you have applied for credit Collection notices issued and judgments delivered for non-payment How you can start building a good credit history Begin to build your credit history as soon as you arrive in Canada Start small and build carefully Ask a bank or credit union to give you a secured credit card. If it will not, go to another institution Using the credit card to buy things will build your credit history. It is best to pay the full monthly amount by the due date to avoid paying high interest fees and maintain a good credit history. After getting the secured credit card, you can apply for other in-store credit cards from retailers where you often shop. This will diversify your credit history sources, which is beneficial, but remember to limit your credit card holdings to three or four at the most. What lenders look for A record of responsible borrowing which can be seen on a credit score Stability: the longer you stay at the same address and/or job, the better How a secured credit card works You deposit cash in an account and request a credit card with a limit to match that amount (for example, $500 or $1,000) Such cards look and work just like regular credit cards. After six months, you can apply for another credit card. Use it to broaden your history. After one year of using the secured card you can ask your financial institution to release the money you gave as security and you can continue using the card. This is only an introduction to credit history. Your financial institution can provide you with more information. Pick up your copy of the credit history brochure at ISIS or any larger bank branch. Connections: An immigrant's guide to starting a business in Nova Scotia 9

12 Section 1 Activity Zone Activity #1 Contact Citizenship and Immigration Canada at or on-line at and ask for the status of your immigration file. Activity #2 Sign up for a Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB). Activity #3 a) Make a list of the credentials that you would like recognized in Canada. b) Find out how to get them assessed for use in Nova Scotia. c) Find out what other credentials you will need that you do not currently have to operate your business. Activity #4 Go to a local bank and apply for a secured credit card. 10 Section 1. Things Unique to You as an Immigrant Entrepreneur.

13 Section 2. Will it Really Work? Advice from entrepreneurs Owning your own business is a big commitment: your time, money and security will all be tied up in your work. Before you make that commitment, make sure that going into business is what you really want. Will you have family support and understanding? Will you be trading in a secure income for the risks of being an entrepreneur? Are you sure you know what all the risks are? For aspiring or current entrepreneurs, my advice is to NEVER give up, believe in yourself and accept that you have no choice BUT to succeed in whatever venture you are into. Draw inspiration from whoever or whatever inspires you - for me it was my motivational books, aduio cds. Lastly, network, network, network, get out there and represent your business so your business is VISIBLE. Mufaro Chakabuda CEO and founder of the Maritime Centre for African Dance Inc, (MCAD Inc). Connections: An introduction to starting a business in Nova Scotia for immigrants 11

14 Section 2. Will it Really Work? Getting to know yourself Owning your own business is a big commitment: your time, money and security will all be tied up in your work. Before you make that commitment, make sure that going into business is what you really want. Will you have family support and understanding? Will you be trading in a secure income for the risks of being an entrepreneur? Are you sure you know what all the risks are? In order to evaluate whether you are ready for entrepreneurship, you also need to know whether you have the skills and experience necessary to open a business or how to get those skills. One way to objectively evaluate your readiness is to do a self-assessment. A self-assessment is an inventory of your previous education, training, experience, skills, knowledge and interests. It will help you discover what you are good at, what you need to improve on, and what kind of business you should or shouldn t open. Complete the self assessment in this section s Activity Zone to get a better idea of what you are capable of. After that, try doing a few more to be sure you have been thorough. Self assessments can be found in a variety of locations. Canada Business-Nova Scotia at has a variety of self assessment tools available that you can use either in person or over the Internet. CONTACT ISIS/Business Development Services (BDS) or to check out the next workshop: When thinking about opening a business, it is important to know: What you like What you don t like What you are good at What areas you need to work on Successful entrepreneurs recognize their own abilities and their weaknesses. They will set up a business that will allow them to make the best use of their skills while allowing them to improve in weaker areas. In some cases, entrepreneurs will only use their strengths and will hire people who are strong in their weak areas. If you choose this way of doing things, be sure your business can afford to pay another person regularly. Step 1 Introduction to Business Start-up You can also try visiting one of the following Web sites: Business Development Bank of Canada: Canadian Bankers Association: 6&sl=23&docid=40&pg=3 Try looking things up in a dictionary. Type the word or phrase into an Internet search engine and find other examples of how it is used. Ask people you know who speak English for help. Try out a language course. To find one, look up schools - language in the yellow pages of your local phone book. 12 Section 2. Will it Really Work?

15 Business ideas There are many factors that determine the success of a business, including the entrepreneur, financing and external forces but the business idea is crucial. It plays a major role in the overall success of a business venture. However, it is part of the early stage of business development that often goes unnoticed by those who are interested in getting into business. Going with an idea "whose time has come" means that the market already exists or can be developed for the product or service that you have to offer. If you would prefer to work with a business that is already established rather than start one from scratch, you can purchase a business that already exists or you can purchase a franchise. Find start-up basics, market information, and helpful advice on different types of businesses by visiting: The Nova Scotia Business Idea Explorer: The fit between you and your idea The idea is only part of the mix that will lead to success. It must be a good "fit" for you if you are going to make it work. To test whether or not the idea can indeed become a good opportunity, it must be assessed. An idea can only become an opportunity if the activity is possible and there is a good fit between the entrepreneur, the business and the market. To be successful in business, you have to have a combination of desire, ability and a good market in which to sell your product or service. If you have desire and ability, but find your market is too small to turn a profit, it might be better to make your business idea a hobby, rather than a primary source of income. If you have desire and a great market, but lack business skills, you have a gap that will require you to be trained or to hire people who have those skills. Lastly, if you have the ability and a market but no special desire or you are not motivated to run your business, your business might fail. Small Business Model Source: Adopted by ISIS and Centre for Women in Business. Connections: An immigrant's guide to starting a business in Nova Scotia 13

16 When generating ideas, it is important to understand the market but not to limit yourself at the same time. An idea that might seem impossible may just be the idea that links you to a real opportunity. So while you are generating ideas, keep your mind open to all possibilities. People often start businesses in a field that they know well. Be willing to explore ideas that are outside your present field of vision. The new area may just be the one that is the right opportunity for you. Once you have decided on a few ideas, evaluate them by using market research techniques. S.W.O.T. analysis One of the commonly used market research tools is S.W.O.T. analysis which stands for Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats related to your business. Strengths and weaknesses are internal factors that you can control; for example, the strength of your business might be excellent customer service or low prices; weaknesses might be high rent, or a poor location. External factors are the ones which are beyond our control, such as trends that can positively affect the business and create opportunities or strong competition and high import duties that can be threats. Analyzing these four components might help you better understand your potential idea and open up your mind to adjusting it. For more information about S.W.O.T. analysis, visit the website: Innovation for small business While innovation can mean using technology to make your business stronger, it can also mean finding a way to do things more efficiently. Innovation does not need to include technology, although it often does. Sometimes being an entrepreneur means you need to think outside the box. Outside the box is a figure of speech in Canada that means to do something differently from the way you normally would. In the case of thinking outside the box, you are looking for creative ways to overcome the obstacles that every entrepreneur eventually encounters. If you have a business idea that requires a high level of technological engagement and innovation, there are special programs and services available to you, including business incubation (which means another organization provides some of the facilities you will need) and special financing programs. For further information, contact the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency at You can also visit the website at For example, if you are going to sell imported cookies, the first thing you might think of is opening your own store, but what about asking schools and charities whether they would like to sell them for fundraisers? Have you considered selling them on the Internet? Some questions to ask yourself before you start your business What does everybody do when they do this? Could this be done a different way? Is this the most efficient way I could be generating profits? How is this usually done in my country of origin? Is this done differently here? Is there a way I can take advantage of a cultural difference? What do I need to do to make my idea a reality? 14 Section 2. Will it Really Work?

17 Buying a small business Purchasing a franchise When you purchase a franchise, you are buying the right to use a business name and business practices that have already been successful in another location. There will be a franchise fee and you may be required to pay a fee in the form of a percentage of your profits to the company that owns the name you are using. Franchises involve a lot of laws and regulations, so be sure to do your research first if you are thinking about this option. To locate a franchise opportunity: Read the business opportunities section of the classified ads in newspapers. Read franchise trade journals, which can be located with the help of your local public library. Apply to work at the franchise outlet of a business that interests you. Attend franchise trade shows. Before moving ahead, you should also consider whether the franchise you have in mind is a good fit for you. Ask yourself: What is the local market like? How do I know the franchise will be successful? Is the franchise I am interested in available in my area? Do I have previous experience that will help me? Do I have enough money to purchase the franchise? Will there be cultural or language barriers with the organization I will be purchasing the franchise from? If so, how will I deal with them? Research the franchisor itself. Look into things like the financial state of the parent company as well as the success enjoyed by other franchisees. You can also contact organizations like the Canadian Franchise Association for more information. Consult a lawyer before you sign any contract. Purchasing an existing business Some business owners in Nova Scotia will be old enough to retire soon and some of them will be putting their businesses up for sale. Buying a business that is already established has some advantages. For example, you can see whether or not the location of the business is good considering what it s selling, whether sales are growing or declining, plus you may be able to keep employees who are already trained and contributing to the success of the business. For more information contact the Canadian Franchise Association at: or The CFA represents almost 500 franchise businesses that follow the organization s code of ethics. To ask about buying business, call: The Nova Scotia Regional Development Authorities Or the Community Business Development Corporations CONTACT ISIS/Business Development Services (BDS) or to check out the next workshop: Business Skills Development Training It isn t easy to find a business that s up for sale when you are new to any region of Canada; it can take a lot of networking and research to find a business venture that is right for you. Connections: An immigrant's guide to starting a business in Nova Scotia 15

18 A few suggestions to get you started: Tell people that you are interested in buying a business but haven t located one yet. It s amazing how far word-of-mouth will take you. Contact your local Regional Development Authority (RDA) and Community Business Development Corporation (CBDC) to get information on business opportunities, workshops or events that might help you find what you are looking for. Become a member of the local Chamber of Commerce and start to network. You may meet an entrepreneur who wants to sell. Network as much as you can. You never know when someone will hear you talking and present you with an opportunity. Try contacting a business broker. For example, Read the business opportunities section of the classified ads in the local newspaper. Check business-for-sale listings on the Multiple Listings Service (MLS) website. A few things to keep in mind Do your own research before you buy to confirm the business is a good investment. You want good value for your money. Take your time and make sure everything you are given is correct and true before you commit to buying the business. Examine at least three years of tax filings and financial statements. Ask an accountant to help you if you are not an expert in this area. Don t fall in love with the business before you do your homework. Find out why the business is being sold: there may be more than one reason. Don t pay too much for things like patents. Buy a business you understand: stick with what you know. Base your decision on potential profits, not the price of the business. Don t spend all your money on the purchase of the business. There may be additional costs in the future. Ask the current owner to share his or her secrets of success with you. It is also extremely important to get professionals, like a lawyer and an accountant, to help you make an informed decision. They are more familiar with the local landscape and can help you avoid some of the difficulties that may otherwise arise. If you can establish that the business is a good investment and a good fit for you, keep researching! For example, how steady are the profits? Some businesses have a sales cycle, while others move along at a steady pace. Sometimes these cycles are over years, sometimes over weeks or months. It s also a good idea to consider whether there will continue to be a market for the business s products or services. Use your network to find out whether there are other things you need to consider before buying the type of business you are interested in. To obtain free market research information, contact: CBNS: (for help developing your research strategy and access to statistics) 1575 Brunswick St. Halifax, NS B3J 2G CONTACT ISIS/Business Development Services (BDS) or to check out the next Three Steps for Small Business Workshops Strategis: (For statistics and business information) Statistics Canada: (for statistics) 1888 Brunswick St. 1st floor Halifax, NS B3J 2G Nova Scotia Department of Finance: (for provincial statistics) P.O. Box 187 Halifax, NS B3J 2N Section 2. Will it Really Work?

19 Finally, get to know the current state of the business. Some businesses carry debts, or offer warranties that you will have to honour later. You also need to find out whether there are good employees on staff who will stay if you take over as their manager as well as whether you will be able to continue to use the same suppliers and service providers the former owner used (at the same price). Conducting Market Research Get to know your customers and competitors. It is important to find out as much as you can about the people you want to sell to, the competition you might face, industry trends, and your potential market share. Remember to keep your market research for later; you will need it for your business plan if you decide to go ahead. In fact, some entrepreneurs choose to start their business plan at this point (see Section 5 for details on how to write a business plan in Canada). Researching the customer The first thing you need to do is to consider whether the market will want your product or service. Once you ve done that, you might want to see whether other people, like a group of potential customers or a business counsellor, agree with you. Who will buy your product or service? Where do they live? What are they like (age, gender, do they have children, etc.)? Why would they buy your product or service? How often would they buy it? Where would they buy it from? A store? A tradeshow? On the Internet? Do your buyers have preferences regarding your product or service? Will you be able to build customer loyalty for your brand? What sort of image do you want your product or service to have? Researching the competition You will also need to do research on your competition. To get information on the types of businesses that are operating in your area, try searching on the Internet and contact organizations that have access to databases that list companies by location and services (Canada Business - Nova Scotia has several that are available free of charge). Databases can help you collect information, but remember that you will have to interpret that information yourself. Your local public library is a great way to access free information on how to successfully run your business in Nova Scotia. At the library, you will find business articles, books and business directories that are industry-related as well as many other helpful resources. While you are there, ask a reference librarian to help you find what you are looking for or book an appointment if you want them to focus specifically on your questions. Librarians are able to help you with finding sources and with using complex statistical data presented in some of the publications. To locate the public library nearest you, look in the Yellow Pages or visit their website halifaxpubliclibraries.ca Who are your competitors? What are their strengths and weaknesses? How do you compare to them? How do you think they will react when you open your business? Will people be willing to purchase your product or service from a new source or are they already loyal to another business? Is there existing good will for your business? Connections: An immigrant's guide to starting a business in Nova Scotia 17

20 Can you make a profit? Finally, you will have to decide how much money you will charge for your product or service. At this point, you need to make sure that you can cover all your business costs and still make a profit. Again, keep your work so you can add this information to your business plan later on. While deciding on pricing, think about the cost of your materials, labour costs and overhead, such as workspace, business supplies, transportation (like a car and gas), delivery fees, telecommunications, taxes and insurance. Suppliers should be happy to help. To get accurate information, contact potential suppliers for estimates on supplies and check the average wages for employees in your industry if you will be hiring staff (the same organizations that help you with your market research can help you with your search for this information). If you will be hiring employees, you will also be responsible for additional employee benefits like holiday pay, Employment Insurance and the Canada Pension Plan. The economy can and does change and the cost of delivering your product or service might increase over time, so be sure to consider that it might be more expensive to run your business next year than today. You might have to raise prices. Once you know how much you have to charge to cover your own costs, you have to decide how much extra you will charge to make a profit. This is called markup, and it can be a very tough decision. While you are doing this to make money, the price you set can be too high or too low to hold the interest of your customers. Questions to consider when determining mark-up Will price be important to your consumers? What are your direct competitors charging for similar products or services? Will you be offering price rebates, such as introductory offers or year-end clearance sales? Are you going to match your competitors or try a lower price? If you are charging more than your competitors, why will people pay more for your product or service? Will you accept returns and offer refunds if people are not happy with what you are selling? If so, how much might this cost? Will you use coupons as part of your advertising? Will you offer extras like gift wrapping or free installation? Will you offer discounts when large quantities are purchased? Will you offer warranties on your product or service? At this point, it may be difficult to estimate all your costs, so add in a little extra to cover the unexpected. 18 Section 2. Will it Really Work?

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